An attack on healthcare every six hours, and no one held to account
14/8/2026: Across the world, healthcare venues and personnel have suffered more than 10,000 attacks in the past eight years, resulting in approximately 5,700 deaths and over 8,000 injuries. Most incidents occurred in Ukraine, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory, but other locations include Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, the DRC, South Sudan, Russia, Syria and Nigeria
Source: UN News
Ambitious Global Tax Treaty remains within reach
13/8/2026: As the fifth round of negotiations concludes, the draft text of a UN Global Tax Treaty is moving towards a fairer allocation of tax on multinational profits between countries. Negotiations will continue until mid-2027.
Source: Greenpeace International
China influence has reshaped development finance conditions in Africa
13/8/2026: At the beginning of the twenty-first century, most foreign aid and investment flowing into Africa came from Europe and North America with explicit conditions attached. Since then Chinese financing and investment has shown less concern as to how African countries govern themselves.
Source: African Arguments
Rights groups sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions
11/8/2026: Four human rights groups have filed a lawsuit in US federal court challenging Marco Rubio's escalated campaign to “dismantle” the International Criminal Court. The sanctions undermine access to justice for victims of serious international crimes.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Türkiye seeks to transfer US cluster munitions to Ukraine
11/8/2026: Türkiye has requested permission from the US to “retransfer” to Ukraine tens of thousands of munitions that have been in Türkiye’s stockpiles for decades. Cluster munitions cannot be targeted with precision and endanger civilians. 112 countries have joined the international Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Aid cuts compel Malawi lawmakers to ‘think outside the box’
10/8/2026: External financing has historically accounted for more than half of Malawi’s health expenditure. Cuts in foreign aid from US, UK and Europe have compelled a rethink about domestic resources. Curbing corruption and reforming tax are candidates for action.
Source: Devex
War in Sudan has left millions of children out of school
7/8/2026: The UN Deputy Secretary-General has reported that at least eight million school-aged children in Sudan remain outside the classroom. She called for Security Council members to do their utmost to bring the conflict to an end. Since 2024, the UN has verified more than 67 attacks on schools.
Source: UN News
Phase 2 of Gaza peace plan faces many obstacles
6/8/2026: Israel and Hamas are being compelled to move to “phase 2” despite lack of agreement on a sequence for implementation. Hamas says no disarmament without Israeli withdrawal; Israel insists no withdrawal until disarmament. Meanwhile, the daily life conditions for Palestinians in the enclave have largely not improved.
Source: The Conversation
What’s behind the Algeria-Morocco rivalry?
6/8/2026: The recent Ceuta incident points to the deep-seated rivalry between Algeria and Morocco. At its heart lies the conflict over Western Sahara, which began when Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975. The tensions give rise to a growing arms build-up that makes conflict a dangerous possibility.
Source: DW
How Tunisia’s democracy was undermined
6/8/2026: Thousands of Tunisian demonstrators have called for an end to what they describe as the increasingly authoritarian regime of President Kais Saied. The roots of the crisis reach back more than sixty years when the founders of the Republic placed the presidency, rather than a balance of powers, at the centre of the Tunisian state.
Source: African Arguments